Letters to the Editor - Feb. 5, 2013

Tuesday

Feb 5, 2013 at 3:15 AM

To the editor: Pressed for time, I only got to listen to a few minutes of the lengthy Senate Confirmation Hearing on the appointment of former Senator (R-Nebraska) Chuck Hagel to Secretary of Defense. However, these were the most critical minutes as Hagel was getting grilled by Senator John McCain and were all I needed to be convinced that Hagel is the right person for the job.

McCain, who I believe should understand better than anyone the potential cost of war, relentlessly pursued an aggressive line of questioning designed to gather a Soviet Union- style confession from Hagel about his being wrong on his nonsupport of McCain’s pet 2007 “Surge” (escalation for counterinsurgency operations) of troops in Iraq. It’s also pertinent to mention that Hagel was the most outspoken Republican critic of the Bush Administration’s Iraq policy.

When pushed by McCain, who was not prepared to handle the truth, Hagel pushed back, “To the comment I made about the most dangerous foreign policy decision since Vietnam — was about not just the surge but the overall war of choice going into Iraq. That particular decision that was made on the surge, but more to the point, our war in Iraq, I think was the most fundamentally bad, dangerous decision since Vietnam. Aside from the costs that occurred in this country to blood and treasure, aside what that did to take our focus off of Afghanistan, which in fact was the original and real focus of a national threat to this country — Iraq was not — …. ”

That answer alone made it clear that Sergeant Hagel, who served as an Army infantry squad leader and was wounded twice in Vietnam, is a reluctant yet willing warrior if the cause is just and all other options have been exhausted. It was also abundantly evident a decade ago that Iraq, which is still very relevant, did not fit that criteria unless one considers executing “The Surge” as justification for starting a war that, like Afghanistan, still hasn’t been paid for (see Iraq War effect on National Debt) at an extremely high cost as stated by Hagel.

Wayne H. Merritt

Dover

To the editor: As selectman and emergency management director in the town of Middleton, I am very proud to recognize the heroic actions that were taken in the recent standoff on Thursday, Jan. 31, in Middleton.

We were astounded with the realization that an armed gunman had entered the home of one our residents on Sunrise Lake. However, through the heroic actions of our Police Department and the quick thinking of our police chief, Randy Sobel, the situation was quickly diffused.

My sincere thanks to all the surrounding communities who responded within minutes to the call of this potentially violent tense standoff!

The Middleton first responders manned their positions at the Fire Department, with Emergency Medical Services prepared to provide medical support, if required.

Local Police Departments from surrounding communities joined Chief Sobel, as well as the New Hampshire State Police and the Strafford County Sheriff’s Department.

Our school aged children remained in Farmington on a soft lock down, so as not to interfere with the handling of the kidnapping and hostage situation.

A decision was made by the Police Chief, Emergency Management Director, and the Selectmen to open the Old Town Hall for those who could not return to their homes. Local volunteers brought hot coffee, doughnuts, and soda, and Farmington House of Pizza delivered 10 pizzas and numerous bottles of soda to our awaiting residents, assorted emergency personnel, and reporters.

It was indeed a long ordeal for all involved. But at the end of the day, the hostage was released, the suspect was convinced to emerge from the home, the children were bussed back to Middleton, the roads were re-opened, and no one lost a life. In the wake of recent incidents in New Hampshire and throughout the United States, I am reminded of the value of a well trained Police force and the resourcefulness of our Firefighters and Ambulance personnel. These first responders are our community’s greatest asset! Their training and quick thinking are to be commended!

Jon B. Hotchkiss,

Selectman

Middleton

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